SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team fell 84-60 to Augustana University Saturday, January 6 at Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Vikings used a potent second half, as they outscored the Golden Eagles 52-32 to earn the victory. The Golden Eagles trailed by 32-28 at the break.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 4-10 (1-7 NSIC) with the loss to the Vikings. Augustana improved to 8-7 (3-6 NSIC) with the victory.

The Golden Eagles were guided by Blaize Sagna (Jr., G, London, England) with 22 points and five boards on 5-of-13 from the field. He was 11-of-15 from the stripe. Ben Hoverson (Jr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) came off the bench for 15 points. Peter Fuchs, Jr. (R-Fr., G, Wausau, Wis.) added 10. Reid Grant (Jr., G, Johnston, Iowa) finished with nine points and seven boards.

Minnesota Crookston shot 20-of-59 from the field for 33.9 percent. The Golden Eagles were 5-of-25 from beyond the arc for 20.0 percent. They went 15-of-20 for 75.0 percent from beyond the arc. 

Augustana was led by 23 points from Isaac Fink, who finished a double-double with 10 boards. Jadan Graves added 15 points. Ahrman Lewis had 14 points and five assists. Caden Kirkman finished with nine points and eight boards.

The Vikings shot 33-of-68 for 48.5 percent from the field. They went 5-of-14 from distance for 35.7 percent. Augustana was 13-of-16 for 81.3 percent from the foul line.

The Vikings won the rebounding edge 39-38. The Golden Eagles had 10 assists to 15 turnovers, while Augustana finished with 14 assists to seven turnovers. 

Sagna finally broke a scoreless tie over three minutes into the game to put Minnesota Crookston ahead 2-0. Fink responded on the ensuing possession for the Vikings, knotting the game 2-2. The two teams traded baskets until Augustana pushed to a 13-10 lead on a Graves jumper with just over 11 minutes remaining in the frame. They pushed their advantage to 15-10 with another Graves jumper. Minnesota Crookston responded with a mid-range jumper from Hoverson to pull within 15-12. Augustana responded with a 4-0 run as a Sam Rensch jumper pushed the advantage to 19-12. Minnesota Crookston sliced the Viking lead to 23-21 as Mitchell found Hoverson for a trey to give the Golden Eagles a 5-0 rally. Lewis countered for Augustana with a three of his own to give the Vikings a 26-21 lead with four minutes remaining in the frame. The two teams continued trading threes as Sagna drained one of his own to pull the U of M Crookston within 26-24. The Vikings took the 32-28 lead into the locker room after an Akoi lay-in.

The Vikings opened the second half with Lewis finding Caden Kirkman for a pair to push the lead to 34-28. The Vikings pushed their advantage to 40-28 with a Lewis trey, and a Fink fastbreak bucket leading to an old-fashioned three-point play. Hoverson halted the 8-0 run with a trey to pull Minnesota Crookston back within 40-31. Augustana countered and widened the gap back out to 44-31 on a fastbreak bucket from Lewis after a goaltending call. The Golden Eagles brought the deficit to nine with a pair of Sagna free throws to make it 46-37 with 15:51 remaining in the game. Augustana extended their lead out to 13 (50-37) on a Caden Hinker jumper. Hoverson fired back with his third triple of the game to cut the deficit to 50-40 with over 14 minutes left in the tilt. Augustana countered and pushed their lead to 54-40 on a Fink basket. The Golden Eagles responded with a 5-0 run of their own as a Sagna jumper brought Minnesota Crookston within 54-45. Fink stopped the rally with a trey to make it 57-45. The Vikings pushed their lead to 64-47 on a Graves triple with 8:20 remaining in the game. Minnesota Crookston stopped the run with three-consecutive free throws to cut the deficit to 65-50. A pair of Sagna free throws got the deficit down to 67-53. Augie responded and widened the gap to 72-54 with a Fink old-fashioned three-point play. The Vikings took the 84-60 victory.

Minnesota Crookston returns home to host Winona State University Friday, January 12 at 5:30 p.m.